Launchbury: Set for surprise debut
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Wasps lock Joe Launchbury and Saracens prop Mako Vunipola are in line to make their England debuts against Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday after being retained in a 23-man matchday squad.
Launchbury, who only joined the squad on Monday as injury cover for Tom Palmer was preferred by England coach Stuart Lancaster to Saracens second row Mouritz Botha and Harlequins' George Robson.
Lancaster is due to confirm his starting XV and eight-man bench - teams are being allowed a maximum of eight replacements rather than seven this season as part of a law amendment trial - on Thursday.
"We have had a good two days back at Pennyhill Park and the players have been very focused on delivering against Fiji," said Lancaster.
"Saturday is a great opportunity for us to put a marker down and deliver a quality performance.
"It's great to have young players such as Mako Vunipola and Joe Launchbury get their opportunities in the matchday 23 and we are excited about the potential of the squad.
"We were keen to get Joe in, particularly in light of his recent form."
After Fiji, England host Australia, South Africa and New Zealand on consecutive weekends at Twickenham.
Lancaster's men need to at least hold onto the fourth place they currently occupy in the IRB rankings if they are to be seeded for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England and so avoid the likes of New Zealand, the reigning champions, in next month's draw for the pool phase.
England 23-man squad to play Fiji:
Backs (10): Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Alex Goode (Saracens), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester), Ben Youngs (Leicester)
Forwards (13): Dan Cole (Leicester), Tom Johnson (Exeter), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Tom Palmer (Wasps), David Paice (London Irish), Geoff Parling (Leicester), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester), David Wilson (Bath), Tom Wood (Northampton), Tom Youngs (Leicester)
Comments
APV1 says...
@ jmanngod - never happen. There are too many Saffas available..!
;-)
Posted 11:18 08th November 2012
rakavi187 says...
Be great to see Tuilagi come up against his Leicester team-mate Vereniki Goneva this weekend. Although he plays on the wing for the Tigers, Goneva is likely to be named at 13 for Fiji.
Posted 21:07 07th November 2012
jmanngod says...
will we see the day Oz and England teams are 100% kiwi? Like Samoa these days...
Posted 17:59 07th November 2012
Honestpom says...
@ dezz, i have a big problem with people like Botha, Hape, Fourie etc getting in on the 3 year residency thing. Not to happy with the Grandma thing either but i can accept that. No problems whatsoever with Vunipola who i understand ( like Tuilagi ) has been brought up in the UK since a very young age, played for England schools etc and regard England as their home much in the same way as any young lad from the UK who moved with their parents at a young age to NZ or Oz would regard themselves as belonging to that country and would rightly be proud to represent them on the sporting field. Not biting, just giving an opinion. Good luck to Mako if he plays.
Posted 17:21 07th November 2012
APV1 says...
@ ArmchairGeneral - the article states, "Launchbury, who only joined the squad on Monday as injury cover for Tom Palmer...". So why is Palmer in the squad? Have I missed something?
Posted 15:50 07th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Apv1 agree given the 23. Except I would have wasp locks: Palmer instead of Parling.
Posted 13:07 07th November 2012
markpat says...
Who would play wing if Sharples or Monye goes off? Move Tuilagi to the wing and have a ridiculous midfield of Farrell and Barritt, or put Brown on the wing?
Distinct lack of pace on the bench, in my opinion.
Is Robshaw covering #8?
Posted 12:28 07th November 2012
APV1 says...
To start:
Cole
Paice
Marler
Parling
Launchbury
Johnson
Robshaw (c)
Waldrom
Care
Flood
Monye
Barritt
Tuilagi
Sharples
Brown
Posted 11:21 07th November 2012
papabear36 says...
Shame about Burns, but great to see Brown back in.
Posted 10:33 07th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Just noticed: Waldrom instead of Dowson! Morgan can blame himself but Waldrom??
Posted 08:56 07th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Palmer still there yet Launch replaced him. But instead they dropped Robson and Botha. Good news if they play together but Botha and Robson will be miffed. Launch should have been selected from start. No talk of Paice. I do hope he starts!
Posted 08:51 07th November 2012
dezz says...
That good old British name Mako Vunipola. See if anyone bites.
Posted 06:53 07th November 2012